5 great books to read

My friend Reg Hunter recently asked me to suggest some books he might enjoy reading and it set me thinking a bit.

Im trying to whittle it down to two or three, but am stuck at the moment at five. Im going to set them down here for posterity and anyone else’s interest and see where I am after that.

So, in no particular order:

The Selfish Gene – Richard Dawkins: The first book from the great Evolutionary Biologist and potentially something of a life changer. First recommended to me by another comedian, Paul Provenza and first read at a ludicrously young age by resident Moseley genius, Dr Andy Pryke (Happy Birthday Andy!).

Island – Aldous Huxley: Most people know of the classic dystopian novel “Brave New World”, but fewer seem aware of Huxkley’s crack at a utopian vision – a classic blend of good novel and wonderful ideas.

Imajica – Clive Barker: Probably the best novel to date from an author which a richness of imagination and sense for story telling on a mythic scale to match Tolkien. Epic and beautiful.

After the Ecstacy, the Laundry – Jack Kornfield: I’ve read a few good spiritual books, but its hard to recommend them to others without seeming evangelical and also because different books will naturally have a different effect on different people. This one had a big effect on me. [edit] On second thoughts I dont think it would have had the same effect I hadnt first read Mark Epstein’s excellent Going to Pieces without Falling Apart so perhaps I should recommend that instead.

Speaker for the Dead – Orson Scott Card: I’ve read a lot of science fiction but I think this may be my favourite. Its actually book two in a series. The first, Enders Game is more lightweight, but eminently readable and well worth a go as a scene setter although the Speaker for the Dead is set a long way further in the future and can certainly be read alone.

There we go, if you read any of them – enjoy!

Rich
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